The Johnny Manziel pinata went on display Monday at Otey's Tavern in Mountain Brook's Crestline Village. (Harry Long photo)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- If Nick Saban has his way, the Alabama defense will get to Johnny Manziel early and often when the Crimson Tide meets the Texas A&M Aggies in Saturday's long-awaited rematch of college football heavyweights.

Before then, though, Bama fans may take their own good-natured whacks at "Johnny Football," too.

"Johnny Pinata," as he's called, stands atop an A&M helmet and comes with a Sharpie in one hand, fake money in the other, and a dollar sign over his number 2 jersey.

Shelly Pricer of It's My Party in Cullman created "Johnny Pinata," who has a Sharpie in one hand and fake money in the other. (Harry Long photo)

The plan is to let Otey's customers take their shots at Johnny Pinata during the bar's weekly trivia night on Wednesday, and if he survives that, they may get to whack away at him some more during the game Saturday.

"We don't know what we are going to do with it besides hang it up in the tavern and see if we can't get some people to come by and take pictures, and then maybe we will have a bashing on Wednesday night," Otey's owner Will Haver told AL.com/The Birmingham News today. "Or, if he can make it all the way to the football game on Saturday, then after the game, we may do it some more."

"It hasn't been up for long, so we haven't had many people realize it's there yet," Haver said. "But we did put it on Facebook and got a lot of likes, so I imagine today and tomorrow people are going to come in to look."

The cocky Manziel's eligibility was in doubt following reports that accused him of selling his autograph to memorabilia dealers during the offseason. However, he was only cited for an inadvertent violation after the NCAA determined that he did not personally profit from the signings, and he was suspended for the only first half of the Aggies' season opener against the Rice Owls.

During that game, Manziel taunted Rice players and students by rubbing his thumb and forefingers together as if he were accepting money, and also by pretending to sign an autograph.

He was also called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and subsequently benched by Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin, after he pointed at the scoreboard following a touchdown pass.

Johnny Pinata -- who is filled with prizes and gift cards -- is Otey's way of having a little good-humored fun at Manziel's expense, Haver said.

"It's fun to take a whack at a pinata," he said. "It's all in good spirit and fun, to poke at Texas A&M and Johnny Football."

Keeping customers from busting Johnny Pinata open too soon may be the biggest challenge, Haver added.

"That's going to be the challenge, keeping it intact," he said. "I'm sure most people want to go ahead and have a go at it."

Check out Johnny Pinata out while he lasts at Otey's Tavern, which is at 224 Country Club Park in Crestline Village.